Tree stand



Aug. 30, 1932. -r 1,874,119

I TREE STAND Filed Sept. 9, 1929 Emerita? Tfiomas E flops? Patented Aug. 30, 1932 'rnonras n. PROPS'I, or ivrnirwoon, rumors TREE STAND Application filed September 9, 1929. Serial No. 391,339.

7 The present invention relates to supporting stands and particularly to a novel adjustable holder primarily adapted for supporting Christmas trees or the like.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a novel holder for Christmas trees, or the like, of such construction as to permit it to be manufactured at low cost.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel holder for Christmas trees, or the like, having novel reinforcing means thereon provided with mounting means for a plurality of supporting legs. I

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel tree holder capable of self adjustment whereby trees or other objects having various diameters may be accommodated and held rigid therein. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel holder for providing adequate support for the object held therein and which may be adapted for other purposes without necessitating alteration thereof.

These and such other objects as will appear hereinafter, will be more readily understood from the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the im-,

proved supporting stand or holder showing a portion of a tree mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view of the novel tree holder, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of the tree holder showing the pivotal mounting means for the legs thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal plan view of the tree holder, showing a modified form of leg mounting.

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 4: showing another modified form of leg mounting.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the novel tree holding device comprises a receptacle or bowl 11, preferably frusto-conical in shape, having an annular reinforcing bead adjacent its top edge and its lower reduced end closed by a bottom 12. This receptacle proper moistening of said tree.

is adaptedto receive therein and provide centering means for the lower portion of a Christmas tree trunk 13, or the like, and is adapted to vcontainwater to provide for the J a Suitable supporting means for the receptaclell is provided by a plurality of legs 14, said legs "preferably being formed of sheet metal straps pivotally-secured at 1 5.to a novel mounting means provided on the receptacle. These legs 14 may be of any suitable design, however, it is preferable that their lower ends be twisted and bent outwardly toprovide arcuate foot portions 16. U

A portion of each of the legs 14 is adapted to extend a short distance above the pivotal mounting 15, as at 17-, said portionbeing turned or twisted at right angles to provide an inwardly directed arcuate section 18 for grip ping the tree trunk 13. With this form of 7'58) leg construction the greater the Weight of the tree 13.0r other object carried in'the receptacle 11, the greater the gripping ability of the sections 18 on said object, as said weight tends to spreadthe lower ends of the legs outwardly. Although any desired number of legs 14 may be satisfactorily employed, it is preferable to employ three, as this number provides the necessary support to prevent the tree, or the like, from being'i'ea'dily tipped F0 surface of the receptacle 11 preferably just below the top edge thereof above the annular bead. The arcuate strap sections 19 are adapted to form a substantially annular reinforcing band-around said receptacle when arranged therearound in the manner shown. The strap sections 19 are formed of a relatively narrow strip of metal and each has its ends bent outwardlyto form ears 21. As clearly illustrated in'Fig. 2, one ear on each conipleinental band section 19 aligns with an ear on the adjacent section, thus providing a pair of radially disposed parallel spaced mounting ears for receiving therebetween the legs 14:. A pivotal mounting is provided for each leg by the pin 22 which extends through aligned apertures in the ears and the leg, said pin being riveted or otherwise secured therein.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of leg mounting is shown wherein the complemental band sections are dispensed with and angles 23 are substituted therefor, said angles being riveted or welded to the receptacle 11a and spaced apart to receive the leg l l therebetween, as before. l/Vhen employing a construction of this character it is necessary to use a heavier gauge of sheet metal for the receptacle 11a to provide for the proper strengthening thereof. The receptacle 11a can, however, be cast, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and in this event lugs 2 1 are formed integral therewith thus providing a unitary construction and reducing the cost of manufacture.

It can readily be understood that a. tree stand constructed in the manner described mounting means for a plurality of support ing legs, said legs having their upper ends toothed, the lower ends of said legs being THOMAS E. PROPST'.

can withstand hard usage. Referring par- 'ticularl to the construction shown in Fi 2 y g a it will be noted that the entire strain imposed upon the legs 14:, by the weight of the object carried thereby, is not transferred to the sheet metal receptacle but is carried by the complemental band sections 19. In forming the band 19 of sheet metal sections, the

cost of manufacturing this'article is considerably less than that entailed when employing a continuous band having lugs welded, or otherwise secured, thereto, as these complemental band sections may be formed from flat strips of metal and punched, to receive the'pins 22,'in one operation.

A supporting stand or holder of this character maybe utilized for numerous purposes, such as for example, providing a-rigid support for a flower pot or other'container. The

legs 14, being secured to the receptacle 11 at i a point outside of its outer diameter, permit a flower pot or the like to rest upon the upper edgeof said receptacle, and the portions 18 of the legs may engage same to hold itin place.

When used for the above purpose the receptacle 11 serves as a drip pan to protect the floors and rugs from any moisture which may pass through said flower pot.

Although exemplary forms of the invention have been described in the foregoing, it is not desired to be limited to the precise construction herein shown, as numerous departures may be made therefrom without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim An article of the character described, comprising, a frustro-conical liquid receptacle, having an annular reinforcing bead below its upper edge a complemental band fixedly secured between said bead and the edge of said receptacle, ears on the ends of the complemental band sections providing pivotal 

